RAF Typhoon jets have joined forces with France's air force in a coordinated attack against an hidden munitions depot in Syria employed by the Islamic State group (IS), as stated by the British defence ministry.
The facility, located using reconnaissance, was believed to be storing arms and explosives, the release indicated, and was situated in hills just to the north of the historic site of Palmyra in central Syria.
"Our aircraft employed precision-guided Paveway IV munitions to strike a several access tunnels providing entry to the site... initial indications indicate the objective was successfully hit," officials stated.
There was no evidence of any harm to civilians in the operation on Saturday evening and every plane involved made a safe return, the defence officials confirmed.
The Typhoon FGR4s were supported by a Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft.
Daesh - alternatively referred to as ISIS - enforced militant control over significant areas in Syria and Iraq until 2019.
"This operation underscores British leadership, and commitment to operate in unison with our partners, to eradicate any resurgence of IS and their dangerous and violent ideologies in the area," the British Defence Secretary John Healey said.
RAF aircraft have performed patrols over Syrian airspace to "deter any efforts to regroup" of Islamic State subsequent to its military defeat at the Baghuz confrontation in 2019, the ministry said.
"I must thank all the members of the UK armed forces participating in this mission for their expertise and their valour," the Defence Secretary commented. "They were part of numerous British troops stationed over the holidays. This mission, to take out terrorist threats who pose a risk to our way of life, highlights how our armed forces are always on standby, all year round, ensuring Britain's security within its borders and influential overseas."
In December, the American forces executed what it described as a "large-scale strike" against Islamic State objectives in the country, following an attack claimed the lives of two US troops and a civilian interpreter in the Palmyra area.
The U.N. estimates IS still maintains between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq.
